From the press release:
As part of its work on the 2011-2012 Key Initiatives, the IFLA Governing Board appointed a working group to draft a background paper on digital lending. At its April 2012 meeting, the IFLA Governing Board endorsed the IFLA E-Lending Background Paper, and there is now a version for download.
The paper attempts to:
- Provide an overview of the issues relating to ebooks in libraries
- Summarize the current positions of publishers in both the scholarly publishing and trade publishing sectors
- Summarize the differences in the way that academic/research libraries and public libraries address the issue of digital collections
- Address the legal context for e-lending and library principles that must be upheld in any suitable models
- Provide a detailed legal analysis of e-lending
The e-lending environment is changing rapidly at this point in time, and the paper will be reassessed in the coming months in light of any significant developments. Revisions of the paper may take place in light of any assessment.
IFLA (International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions) continues to work in this area and has been liaising with EBLIDA (European Bureau of Library, Information and Documentation Associations), the ALA (American Library Association), and others as it seeks to understand the implications for the delivery of high quality library services in the 21st century. Considering just how important any developments in this area are for libraries around the world, IFLA encourages interested individuals or institutions to share experiences, information, or reports with the e-lending working group. Any information can be sent to Stuart Hamilton, director of Policy and Advocacy, at IFLA HQ:stuart.hamilton@ifla.org
